Manchester man handed increased jail sentence for historical sex offences

A Manchester sex offender has had his sentence increased by the Court of Appeal following a referral by the then Solicitor General.

Daniel Dunkerley, 34, was convicted of four counts of sexual abuse taking place between 2001 and 2003 when he was aged between 14 and 17, and his victim was aged between 3 and 5.

Dunkerley was found guilty after trial of one count of indecency with a child, two counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. On 27 July 2021, Dunkerley was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months’ imprisonment at the Crown Court at Manchester Minshull Street.

Following the sentence, the then Solicitor General referred Dunkerley’s sentence to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme. On 12 October the Court of Appeal found his original sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 7 years imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP said:

The original sentence failed to take proper account of the seriousness of these offences, and I am pleased the Court has now seen fit to increase his sentence.